Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

The reading for today titled Unchanging God, was written by Kenneth Peterson.

An iconic photo shows the tread of a boot against a gray background.

It's astronaut Buzz Aldrin's footprint which he left on the moon in 1969.

Scientists say that footprint is likely still there, unchanged after all these years.

Without wind or water, nothing on the moon gets eroded, so what happens on the lunar landscape stays there.

It's even more awesome to reflect on the constant presence of God himself.

In James 1, James writes, every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly

Lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. The Apostle puts this in the context of our

own struggles. When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. Why? Because we're loved by a great and

unchanging God. In times of trouble, we need to remember God's constant provision. Perhaps we might

recall the words of the great hymn, Great is thy faithfulness. There is no shadow of turning with

thee. Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not, as thou hast been, thou forever will be.

Yes, our God has left his permanent footprint on our world. He will always be there for us. Great is his

faithfulness. Now follow along as I read from the book of James chapter 1, verses 2 through 8,

and then verses 12 through 18.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to

all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded, and unstable in all they do.

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